England Under-19s missed the chance to qualify for the 2019 Under-20 World Cup courtesy of a 3-0 defeat to Norway Under-19s in the 2018 European Under-19 Championships on Thursday afternoon.
© Reuters
Erik Botheim, Eman Markovic and Jens Hauge scored the goals for Norway, who were triumphant in the fifth-place playoff to ensure that they would be present at the Under-20 World Cup next summer.
England were the defending champions entering this summer's tournament, but they failed to make it through the group stage after winning just one of their three fixtures against Turkey, Ukraine and France.
Pre-season tours meant that the likes of Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho and Ryan Sessegnon were absent, and the Three Lions struggled to compete with Norway in the latter stages of the match.
Indeed, the opening goal did not arrive until the 75th minute - Botheim registering - before Markovic and Hauge netted in the 86th and 89th minute respectively to secure a 3-0 success.
Chelsea pair Trevor Chalobah and Tariq Lamptey were among those to turn out for Paul Simpson's side, while Liverpool's Adam Lewis also featured.
NORWAY UNDER-19s: Faye; Mickelson, Oestigaard, Frediriksen, Kitolano (Dahle 55'); Borkeeiet, Svendsen, Vetlesen, Nordii (Markovic 46'); Brynhildsen (Hauge 82'), Botheim
ENGLAND UNDER-19s: Balcombe; Sterling (Kirby 82'), Chalobah, Tanganga, Lewis; Embleton, Sanders; Brereton, Bayliss, Lamptey; Hirst (Ennis 80')
